Enjoy people-watching around the fountain, have a picnic on the lawns or order a drink at one of the cafés at Piccadilly Gardens. This square has always been Manchester’s central transport hub, with connections to the whole city, but looks totally different today than it did 15 years ago. The green space with public transport interchange is surrounded by shops and hotels and is a place where local business people come for lunch and parents on shopping trips take their children to play for a while.
Piccadilly Gardens was transformed shortly after the turn of the millennium because it had fallen into disrepair and the area was regarded unsafe. Many agreed that something needed to change, but, more than a decade later, most Mancunians still haven’t warmed to the new version.
One of the most controversial aspects of the redesign is a large concrete wall. Japanese architect Tadao Ando intended to shield the gardens from the nearby bus and tram interchange, but the structure is referred to as a “brutalist landmark” and “Manchester’s own Berlin Wall.”
One feature that is popular, however, is the large green space. On sunny days children play in the fountains or on the swing and couples picnic on the grass. Join the office workers and enjoy lunch in the outdoors, or people-watch from one of the terraces. Small markets are sometimes held in the square, so bring some cash to buy local treats or wares.
Find some of the few links to the site’s rich past by seeking out the four remaining statues of historical figures, including Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington.
Piccadilly Gardens lies between the popular shopping area of Market Street and the bars and stores of the Northern Quarter. The busy hub is only a five-minute walk from the Piccadilly railway station and a 10-minute walk from the Victoria railway station. Piccadilly Gardens houses a major bus terminal and all Metrolink trams have stops here.
Piccadilly Gardens Tours and Activities
Visit Piccadilly Gardens
Tours & day trips
See all 78 activitiesOpens in new tabSnowdonia, Chester & North Wales from Manchester
Private & custom tours
See all 22 activitiesOpens in new tabHaunted Manchester Self-Guided Tour: The Pusher
Food, drink & nightlife
See all 17 activitiesOpens in new tabHard Rock Cafe Manchester Dining Experience
Attractions
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Shows & concerts
See all 3 activitiesOpens in new tabManchester: Alcotraz Immersive Cocktail Experience Ticket
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